Certified Peace Officer (State of Georgia)

by Anna
(Georgia)

My position as a "Detail Officer" consists of transporting and supervising Convicted Male Felons outside the prison and throughout the County at various work sites such as our local Recycle Bank, Fire Dept. Headquarters, Parks Operations Center and many parks. Our jobs consisted of but not limited to the cutting down of dead trees, trim and prune trees and bushes, spread mulch, mow lawns, edging, picking up trash, cleaning public restrooms and various more work details.

Aside from teaching men how to utilize and care for equipment such as chain saws, weeders, trimmers, etc., my favorite part would be the look on their faces as nature would interact with them. Whether it be finding a nest, a rabbit running through our work-site or the sight of a butterfly floating around them and landing on a flower only inches from the Inmates reach. One inmates face turned from a grown, 6'5", approx. 275 lb., 40+ year old Man into a young child as a butterfly floated around him almost as if to tease him, then as he watched this beautiful creature it landed on his shoulder. The Inmate froze and turned his head towards me and the the biggest smile began to slowly grow and his eyes spoke as if to tell me, "You See That?". I just smiled back, nodded and watched as the other Inmates began to nudge each other and point his way. As an artist, I have been blessed to have experienced moments in my life where time has truly stood still and this was surely one of those moments. This has to be one of the most serious men I have ever met and have seen him barely grin before that moment, but never smile. And what a huge smile, so big it seemed to over shadow his large stature. One by one, the power tools became silent as the Men turned them off and placed them on the ground. That butterfly only stood on his uniform for maybe a minute but for me, it seemed more like 10 minutes.

When our winged friend flew off no one said a word. Me being the passionate Latina Lady and grandma had to quickly remember my position and duties and stated, "Gentlemen, I believe this is a good time for a break...make it 15". Policy states that while I am wearing my weapon, I am to keep my distance from the men but, how I enjoyed listening to them speak about their own individual knowledge of nature and the occasional teasing of the Inmates smile during his butterfly's visit on his arm. They swore they had never seen this man smile so much within his prison stay and move so gently.

Upon returning to the prison, my detail has always done exactly as I have instructed them to. I would call out, "Gentlemen, fall in", and they would line up shortest to tallest and walk in a single file formation. Until that day, they hated that the other inmates and my fellow officers would tease them for conforming to my "military ways", but that was the last time I ever had to instruct them. The particular Inmate with the Butterfly visit, jump out of my transport vehicle and in a low but stern voice exclaimed, "You know what to do!" and at that moment, the other Inmates, put out their cigarettes that they had lit with the intentions to get a quick smoke before entering the gate towards the search room, and everyone lined up, straightened up their uniforms and remained quiet waiting for my next order, then he turned to me and said, "Thank you Ma'am" and smiled one more time. The other inmates joined in and one by one began to thank me and tell me that they had a great day and were looking forward to tomorrow.

That was the beginning of many months of very good details. No "Disciplinary Reports" written, no one ever have to be placed in handcuffs, no call for "back up", no major incidents and best of all, NO ESCAPES. I don't know if that Monarch ever made it to Mexico or not, but I sure hope it did. It's amazing how God works. You just never know. Since then some of the Inmates I've had assigned to my detail have made parole and this particular one was one of those. He had requested to see me and as I approached him about 2 months since that "Butterfly Day", he informed me that he had been approved for release by the Parole Board, wanted to thank me for picking his name to be on my detail. I gave him the normal speech I give all the others preparing to go out into the free world but in his case added. "When life sends you through tough times, remember to smile and never let them know what you're smiling about, but if it all possible, make it your "Butterfly smile". He smiled ear to ear and responded with one more southern style "Yes Ma'am, thank you, I promise".

Once in a while, as I deal with a disheartened Inmate having a bad day, or other aspects of working inside a prison full of people receiving bad news, or other down aspects of the job, the happenings of the "Butterfly" day cross my mind and I smile when I remember the words that particular Inmate said to me later on that day during their second (lunch) break. He stated, "Officer -------, if someone had told me that someday I'd be out here in the middle of a park, on a picnic bench far away from the prison, in the free world after being locked up for so long, I'd tell them they were crazy". One can not describe the feeling that comes from moments like that, especially when you are in my position.

As a western New Yorker, Chautauqua County, used to the wine country life, I have begun my next career search, but as I came across your "GREEN" website, I believe I am on the right track. I don't know where my path will lead me, but I'm sure I found a place where I felt comfortable enough to share this experience. I have placed many fallen bird eggs back into nest throughout the years, posted my land back home from hunters, and been an advocate of wildlife, nature, children and the elderly throughout my life with much satisfaction, but none can top the feeling I felt on that great "Butterfly Day". Thank you & God bless all You Guardians of our Great Planet. I've got your back :)

Respectfully,
Badge #337